-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A Florida man is accused of strangling a family puppy , chopping it into pieces and cooking its ribs on the stove , Tampa police said .

Thomas Elliot Huggins , 25 , was arrested Thursday after a family member called police .

`` When officers arrived , they found the dog 's ribs cooked in a pot on the stove , '' Tampa police said . `` The dog 's head was in the garbage . ''

Huggins had strangled the 5 - to 6-month-old puppy and chopped it into quarters , storing pieces in the freezer for future meals , authorities said .

He was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty . Animal control officials took the remains of the puppy .

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Police say Thomas Elliot Huggins strangled and cut up a puppy

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When police arrived , they found the dog 's ribs cooking on the stove